Hockey greats among newest Order of Canada inductees

OTTAWA — Forty years after they skated their way into history, two members of Canada’s Summit Series hockey team have now scored an Order of Canada.

Ken Dryden has been named an officer of the order and Paul Henderson a member as the Governor General’s office released the list of the latest inductees.

Both men were members of the Canadian hockey team during the 1972 Summit Series against Russia, though their citations also note their achievements in other fields.

Joining them from the hockey world was Daniele Sauvageau, who coached Canada’s Olympic women’s hockey team to gold at the 2002 Games.

Altogether, Governor General David Johnston announced 91 new appointments to the Order of Canada, which was established in 1967 to recognize service to Canada.

There are three levels to the honour: companion, officer and member. The highest level, companion, can only have 165 living members at any time.

The list of inductees is usually released twice a year.

Others named Sunday include two longtime CBC journalists, Michael Enright and Andrew Barrie, as well as investigative reporter Stevie Cameron.

Among Cameron’s best-known work is an investigation she did into then-prime minister Brian Mulroney’s involvement in the purchase of new Airbus jets.

She was accused of being an informant for the RCMP when they launched their own investigation but those accusations were later recanted.

Broadcaster Elmer Hildebrand was named for his contributions to radio in western Canada and other charitable causes.

Two high-profile Canadian politicians were also inducted.

Sheila Copps, a deputy prime minister under Jean Chretien, and Brian Tobin, also a Chretien cabinet minister and former premier of Newfoundland and Labrador both became officers of the order.

Former Assembly of First Nations Chief Phil Fontaine also became an officer of the order, cited for his contributions on behalf of First Nations and particularly his role in the resolution of claims arising from the aboriginal residential schools.

Several members of Canada’s arts community were recognized as well, including philanthropist Scott Griffin for his establishment of an international poetry prize, choreographer Paul-Andre Fortier for his contributions to dance and Roald Nasgaard, a former chief curator at the Art Gallery of Ontario.

Orders of Canada are awarded upon the recommendations of an 11-member advisory council which includes the chief justice of the Supreme Court and the Clerk of the Privy Council.

Only four have ever been revoked, each time because the individual was later convicted of crimes.

Earlier this year, Conrad Black had sought the ability to plead his case before the council as to why he should keep his.

The former media baron was convicted in the United States of fraud and obstruction of justice while he was head of media giant Hollinger International.